Pfizer says kidney cancer drug missed its primary endpoint in trial

Pfizer announced that its drug Inlyta, used to treat kidney cancer, failed to meet its endpoint in a late-stage trial.

AP/FILE

KALAMAZOO, MI --Pfizer Inc. announced Oct. 17 that its kidney cancer drug, Inlyta, did not meet its endpoint in a late-stage trial.

In a Phase III trial, Inlyta failed to show a statistically significant improvement in patient survival rates without the cancer getting worse.

“We narrowly missed the primary endpoint in this trial,” said Dr. Mace Rothenberg, senior vice president of clinical development and medical affairs for Pfizer's Oncology Business Unit, in a statement. “We are analyzing the study findings to determine whether further evaluation of Inlyta in specific subpopulations of treatment-naïve patients with advanced RCC (renal cell carcinoma) would be warranted.”

The trial tested the drug's effect on patients who received no prior treatments, comparing its effects with the drug sorafenib. Inlyta is approved to treat patients whose cancer has not responded to other treatment.

Pfizer, the world's largest drugmaker, is one of Kalamazoo's largest employers, with some 2,950 workers in the county.